Crap Towns / Edinburgh / Deliberate fires

How many fires get started on purpose in Edinburgh?

There were 18.8 deliberate fires per 10,000 people a year in Edinburgh from April 2023 to March 2026, 16% lower than the typical Scottish town's 22.3. The most common were bins and rubbish set on fire, at 8.1. In 2025/26 it was 18.8, up from 17.6 in 2023/24.

**Over time**
Period	Here	Typical Scottish town
2023/24	17.6	22.6
2024/25	20.0	20.4
2025/26	18.8	19.0

**What was set alight**
Fire	Here	Typical Scottish town
Bins and rubbish set on fire	8.1	8.2
Grass, woods and crops set on fire	5.6	6.2
Other outdoor fires	5.2	5.0

**Nearby towns**
Town	Distance	Fires per 10,000 people a year
Mayfield	12.8 km	30.2
Burntisland	13.9 km	24.5
Musselburgh	10.4 km	23.8
Edinburgh	–	18.8
Dalkeith	11.0 km	18.6
Bonnyrigg	9.8 km	16.3
Loanhead	7.5 km	13.5
Penicuik	11.2 km	11.2
South Queensferry	12.2 km	10.1
Kirkliston	11.9 km	9.6
Dalgety Bay	13.9 km	3.9
The typical Scottish town	–	22.3